Born in Prague on July 3, 1883, Franz Kafka became one of the most influential existential writers of the 20th century. Kafka's works often depict ideas such as isolation, alienation, and authoritarian oppression ("Franz Kafka"). Like most writers, their works are influenced by either an event or the role of a person in their life, Kafka had his influence. Kafka's father played one of the most important roles in his life, visible in his writings and even after the day he died. Hermann Kafka, Kafka's father, and described by his son as "tall, loud, volatile and domineering". » said the NNDB. Kafka's father is not depicted in his works, but Kafka even wrote a letter, "Letter to My Father" or "Dearest Father", about his father's abuse and parenting. In “Letter to My Father”, Kafka argues in particular: It is also true that you have almost never really beaten me. But the screaming, the way your face was turning red, the hasty undoing of the straps and putting them on the back of the chair, all of that was almost worse for me. It's like someone is going to be hanged. If he is really hanged, then he is dead and everything is over. But if he has to go through all the prerequisites to be hanged and only learns of his reprieve when the rope is hanging in front of his face, he risks suffering for the rest of his life (40). This is one of many comments to his father, in his letters, which gives the idea not only of a dislike for his father, but of a total hatred towards him. Furthermore, it is a personal letter addressed specifically to his father, and not a work he published; but still shows his major influence on his writing. In 1916, Kafka completed his work “The Judgment”. This story was almost about the direction to...... middle of paper ...... writers consider Hermann Kafka to be an important, if not the most important, influence on Kafka's writing. Even to the days of his death, Kafka was never able to deliver his father's letter to him, and it remains a mystery whether it was really meant to do so, as he wanted all his letters and diary are burned. Works Cited “Franz Kafka”. La Biographie.com, 2014. Web. May 14, 2014 “Franz Kafka”. NNDB.com., 2014. Web. May 14, 2014 Kafka, Franz. Dearest Father. Trans. Hannah and Richard Stokes. UK: Oneworld Classics, 2008. Print. Kafka, Franz. The Metamorphosis. Trans. David Wyllie. Project Gutenberg, 2005. Web May 14, 2014. Kafka, Franz. The judgment. Trans. Ian Johnston. thoughtaudio.com. ThoughtAudio. Internet. May 14, 2014. Stephens, The Personal Life of J. Franz Kafka Reflected in the Metamorphosis. Mauro Nervi, January 8, 2011. Internet. May 14 2014.